Previous winners of the accolade include Janine Sparks, head of reward and performance at Southern Water, Debra Corey, group rewards director at PageGroup, and John Chilman, group reward and pensions director at FirstGroup.

This year’s shortlist is:

Paul Bissell, head of reward (fixed line), Vodafone

Neal Blackshire, reward manager, McDonald’s Restaurants

Adam Brooke, employee benefits and wellness manager, JP Morgan

Chris Coyne, group head of reward and HR services, City and Guilds

Raffaela Goodby, head of organisational development, engagement and wellbeing, Birmingham City Council

Ian Hodson, reward and benefits manager, University of Lincoln

Seth Russell, director of reward, Three UK

The winners will be announced during a lunch-time ceremony at the Artillery Garden at the HAC, London, on 27 June.